Fr Ivo, This very man who is now "beatified" and whom you so effusively praise, played the main role in the cover-up of the church's massive child abuse scandals. The word 'abuse' is mild and misleading. It should really be called child rape and destruction of lives but that is a digression.
Allegations that the late pontiff blocked an inquiry into a paedophile cardinal, promoted senior church figures despite accusations that they had molested boys and covered up innumerable cases of abuse during his 26-year papacy have cast a cloud over his path to sainthood. The most serious claims are related to Cardinal Hans Hermann Groer, an Austrian friend of John Paul’s who abused an estimated 2,000 boys over decades but never faced any sanction from Rome. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger — who became Pope Benedict — had tried to investigate the abuses as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, according to Schönborn. But his efforts had been blocked by “the Vatican”, an apparent reference to John Paul. Stanislaw Obirek, a Polish theologian and a former Jesuit priest, said: “I believe John Paul is the key person responsible for the cover-up of abuse cases because most of it occurred during his papacy. How can someone who is to blame for this be beatified?” The paragraphs above and further sordid details of some of JP II's doings are from a London's Sunday Times article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7086738.ece Better to choose some other hero, Fr Ivo. Roland. Toronto. BLESSED JOHN PAUL II * IVO DA CONCEIÇÃO SOUZA (Margão) “Santo Subito! (Soon a Saint)” were the words to be read on several plackards on the day of the death itself of Pope John Paul II. They were the wish of the people who admired and loved him, in particular the youth. Today he is Blessed. He is really “The Great”. He is simply universal. John Paul II has left a rich legacy to the Church of tomorrow, to the society and to humanity. Pope Benedict XVI beatified him on May 1, 2011. When I heard about the novel of Morris West, Shoes of Fisherman, as a student, I was eager to see a Pope of such a calibre, during my lifetime, and succeeded. John Paul II has become a catalyst in the world history. The Pope has brought out the Gospel message and its values to the socio-political arena, to everyday life, to the man in the street. Karol Józef Wojtyla was a bright student, a good sportsman, an excellent actor, a strong worker, an excellent Professor of Philosophy, a good educationist, an honest diplomat, a true statesman, a holy priest, a good shepherd, an excellent bishop, a saintly Pope. He was simply great!
